Pecos National Historical Park

Pecos Pueblo was continuously occupied from the 1200s until 1838. At its peak in the 1500s several thousand people lived in the village which was perched above the Glorieta Pass. It flourished as a trading center with the Plains Indians to the east supplying buffalo meat and hides; and Rio Grande Pueblos to the west bringing corn, beans, squash, pottery and obsidian. The Spanish made contact with the pueblo in the mid 1500s but they didn't attempt to take control until 1621, sending Roman Catholic Franciscans to convert the Native Americans and Spanish settlers to colonize the land. The community lost 75 percent of its population from Spanish and Mexican encroachment, Comanche attacks, a small pox epidemic and other diseases. In 1838 the few remaining people moved to Jemez Pueblo and the buildings were left to crumble. 

This interpretive sign shows the ghost image of a church built in 1625. It was destroyed in the Pueblo Revolt in 1680 when the pueblos banded together to drive the Spanish from the New Mexico territory. The Spanish didn't return to Pecos Pueblo until 1692. 

From 1914 -1929 extensive excavations of the pueblo site were lead by archaeologist Alfred Vincent Kidder. In 1935 the site became a state monument then, in 1965, a national historic park.  

The visitor center has good exhibits and a theater where a short video is shown. Dirt trails lead to the pueblo remains and the remains of a 1717 Spanish mission church built by the Native Americans. Two more trails located off the pueblo site are also available. The Glorieta Battlefield Trail interprets a Civil War battle fought as the Confederate Army sought to gain control of the Santa Fe Trail and a route to the California gold fields. The South Pasture Loop Trail travels along an old ranch road. A museum in the ranch house, formally a trading post built in 1858, is open to visitors. 

The visitor center is accessible. The trail to the pueblo can be accessed from the parking lot or from the rear of the visitor center. It's also possible to drive to the site. Make sure to get a trail guide at the visitor center. The pueblo trail is hard packed but hilly. Most wheelchair users will need assistance. The church ruins has paths paved with bumpy flagstone. There are some steps but except for one section ramps provide a workaround. We did not go to the museum in the ranch house or on the other trails. 

The parking lot has long bus/RV spaces. Most RVs will fit in the parking lot at the pueblo. Park  35.54991, -105.68633